GRAND FORKS, N.D. --- The University of North Dakota women's
hockey team was edged 2-1 in the series finale Saturday at the Ralph Engelstad
Arena as the Wisconsin Badgers salvaged a series split.

North Dakota drops to 14-10-0 (9-9-0-0 WCHA) while the
Badgers improve to 15-7-2 (11-7-2-2 WCHA).

Tied 1-1 in the third period, Madison Packer took advantage
of a blocked shot near the point in the defensive zone and was off to the races
for a breakaway opportunity. Able to get UND netminder Shelby Amsley-Benzie (Warroad,
Minn.) to commit to a deke to her backhand, Packer slid the puck into the
short-side of the net for the eventual game-winner at 15:25 of the third
period.

After being shutout yesterday it didn't take long for the
Badgers to light the lamp as Katy Josephs found the back of the net only 4:50
into regulation for the game's first goal.

Senior Jocelyne Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.) was able to
even the game before the first intermission as she sniped a wrist shot past
Alex Rigsby at the 17:35 mark.

Both goaltenders stood tall in net with game-changing saves,
but it was Rigsby that came out on top stopping 28-of-29 shots. Amsley-Benzie
concluded with the two goals allowed and 29 saves on the night.

On the game's first power play, it was Rigsby that had to
bail out her team as a shorthanded UND squad had a couple golden opportunities
as Jocelyne Lamoureux and Monique Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.) couldn't
convert on a 2-on-1 and 2-on-0 rushes.

It was Amsley-Benzie's turn to shine and keep the game tied
late in the second period as last year's Patty Kazmaier Award winner Brianna
Decker was awarded a penalty shot late after a UND player covered the puck in
the crease. Amsley-Benzie would make a big pad save and keep the game even entering
the final stanza.

UND caught a tough bounce on the power play in the final minutes
of the game as it was looking for the equalizer. Jocelyne Lamoureux beat Rigsby
cleanly with a wrist shot but the puck clanked off the post and slid harmlessly
behind the netminder and cleared from trouble.

Wisconsin went scoreless on the weekend in its power-play
attempts and 0-for-6 tonight.

North Dakota returns to the road next weekend for a
Friday/Saturday series with the St. Cloud State Huskies.